The Sun. — London, England, 1864-05-24 00:00:00

MI.ITRIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS—Last Evening. The LORD CHANCBLLOR to AK his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed : Kilkenny Junction Railway—Parsonstown and Portumna Bridge R a ilway—Pontypridd Water—North-Eastern— Lancashire and Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Railway Companies Amendments. THE REGIUS PROFESSORSHIP OF GREEK. The Earl of DERBY referred to some remarks made by the noble and learned lord on the woolsack in the course of his speech the other evening on the occasion of the debate upon the subject of the endowment of the Regius Professorship of Greek at Oxford. The observations of the noble and learned lord conveyed what had been considered a reflection upon the university, which, he said, had obtained certain grants from the public, certain exemptions from taxation, and especially an exemp tion of the privileges given to the Queen's printer, on con ditions that they should devote a portion of the emoluments to the endowment of the professorship of Greek. He denied that when these privileges were conferred upon the Uni versity there was any stipulation for the endowing of the Greek professorship, nor any stipulation for the endow ment of the professorship. Were the charge substantial he should be as ashamed as he was proud of his connection with the University. The LORD CHANCELLOR readily exonerated the University from having committed a breach of any distinct understanding, but censured it for having failed to charge its obligation to make adequate prov ai n for the Greek Professor. Lord GRANVILLE also condemned the course punned by the University, after which the subject dropped. COUNTY COURTS ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. On the order of the day for the second reading of this bill, after briefly referrin g t o th e c i v il L or d BROUGHAM , war in America and the war between Denmark and Ger many, said that 58 out of 60 county court judges were op posed to that part of the present measure which provided for the abolition of the power of imprisonment for debt on judgment summonses, There were 900,000 plaints brought every year in the county courts. These did not result in more than 9,000 judgment summonses ; while a very small proportion of those against whom such summons were taken out were sent to prison. The truth was that the proportion of those who were impriscned on judgments obtained from the county courts was less than that of those against whom judgments were obtained in the superior courts. Under these circumstances he could not assent to this part of the bill ; but, on the other head, those of its provisions which invested the county courts with an equitable jurisdiction had his cordial approval. He concurred with the Lord Chan cellor in thinking that it was desirable to introduce a shorter period of limitation for small debts than that which was at present fixed by law. Lord ST. LEOTARDS objected not only to the aboli tion of imprisonment for debt on judgment summonses, but also to the reduction of the period of limitation for small debts from six years to one year. He thought that it would not be safe to reduce that tuna to less than three years. Credit was capital , and if they took from the labouring classes their credit they took from them their on'y capital. A labouring man would be placed in the most serious difficulties, and would often be driven into the workhouse if he were not enabled to obtain credit during hard times, or the winter season, when he could not obtain employment. But it was clear that if they abolished the power of imprisonment for debt, no one would trust the poor man who had no property. He thought also that their sympathies in legislating on this subject should not be be stowed wholly on the debtor; they ought also to bear in mind the position of the creditor. He had a fair right to be provided with an effectual means of recovering his debts ; this he would not have if the power of imprisoning the debtor ware taken away. It was true that the bill provided that a debtor might be imprisoned if he had contracted his liabilities by fraud, or had wilfully wasted his property by unjustifiable extravagance after the issue of the judgment summons; but he did not think that a creditor ought to be driven to 'rove either of these things—both of which would frequently involve considerable difficulty—before he could be entitled to take steps practically effective for the enforce ment of his claims. The noble and learned lord proposed that when a judgment was obtained against a labouring man, the county court judge should issue a notice to his emp:oyer requiring him to set aside a portion of the man's wages, and pay them over to the high bailiff in dis charge of his debt. It would be quite impracticable to work an enactment of this kind. The only effect of trying to en force it would be that, as soon as any employer received such a notice as he had described, he would discharge the man to whom it related. He strongly objected to investing the county court judges with the powers of judges of courts of equity. They had not the requisite knowledge to enable them to discharge ouch functions. And he was perfectly certain that it they enabled suits which were at present con• dusted in the Court of Chancery to be brought in county courts, the result would be an immense and most injurious increase of litigation. Lord CHEL3ISFORD was anxious that the subject to which this bill related should not be regarded as a legal question. It was, in truth, a social question of the hiehest importance, and involving very deeply the welfare of the labouring classes. This bill might be divided into two gene ral heads. He would not refer to that part of the bill which conferred equitable jurisdictionupon the county courts, be cause he believed that this might be found very useful. Ile would confine his remarks to that other portion of the mea sure which deprived county court judges of the power of imprisoning debtors who refused or neglected to pay their debts under 52,0 after judgment had been recovered against them. In 1859 the Legislature took away from the judges the power of committing, except in cases of fraud, or where it appeared to the satisfaction of the judges that the defen dant had the means is pay the debt and refused to do so. His hon. and learned friend, in the month of March last year, evidently with a view to this measure, issued a circular letter to the judges, asking whether this power of commit ment should be abolished or modified in any way : 57 out of 60 of the judges, replying to that circular letter, were of opinion that this power ought to be retained. Under the old law the imprisonment of a debtor was the act of the cre ditor; at present imprisonment was the act of the judge for disobedience of the law. A debtor was formerly imprisoned whether he had the means to pay or sot ; the power of com mitment under the existing system could only be exercised where a debtor had the means to pay and refused, or where he was fraudulent, reckless, or dishonest. Out of 9000,000 plaints, representing a sum of £2,000,030, issued in one year, more than one-half were settled before judgment. About 400,000 judgments were issued for an amount of upwards of £1,000,000, and costs upwards of £lO,OOO, From these there were about 9,000 commitments ; but as it appeared that one-third of this number paid before imprisonment, only 6,000 persons, or l per cent. on the 400,000 judgments, were actually imprisoned. With respect to commitments for small sums, their lordship should be acquainted with the circumstances of each case, and should bear in mind that it was only when a debtor possessing the means refused to pay that. he could be committee. The noble and learned lord declined to admit that county court judges always looke d at s uch cas es from a creditor's point of view, and expressed his belief that the Lord Chan cellor, in introducing the measure, had scarcely done justice to the county court judges. He went on to quote from the reports of the county court judges to show that, th oug h they regarded the power of commitment on judgment sum monses as the most irksome and disagreeable portion of their duty, they nevertheless considered it essential, and that to abolish it would be most injurious to the just in terests of suitors. He did not believe that any alteration in the law was necessary in order to meet the cases quoted by the Lord Chancellor. For instance, no judge who knew his duty would commit the debtor in such cases where a tailyman obtai ned a summons a g ainst a father for goods supplied without his knowledge or consent to his daughter, or against a husband for useless finery supplied under similar circumstances to his wife. The bill appeared to be specially directed against tallymen, and to prevent what the neble lord called the dangerous and mischievous facility of credit which was give n to the labouring clams. He (Lord Chelmsford) expres sed his belief that in many districts the services of those tallymen were absolutely essential to provide the wives and children of cottaners with suffioient clothing, and that any abuse of the system was prevented by county court judges invariably refusing to make the husband liable for any goo ds supplied to the wife which were not absolutely necessary. It appeared to be assumed that it the power of commitment were taken away from the county court judges credit would not be given. He pointed out that, if this were done, the only security which labouring men could offer to their creditors would be taken away, and they would be deprived of credit, which in innumerable cases was positively necessary; and showed hew injuriously it would affect Also the class of small shopkeepers, many of whom would be driven to the parish. It was proposed by the bill that in lieu of the power of comm i tment t h ere s h ou ld be power of execution against the goods of the debtor for amounts over £l. But that would not meet the case in Which the present power of commitment was peculiarly efficacious, nam ely. where the debtor lived i n f urn i s h e d lodgings and had ample means to pay his credit ors, b ut from obstinacy, or from the desire to e his sensua l tastes, did not do so. In suc h cases, taking away the judgment summons would remove the only means by which the credi tor could compel his debtor to be honest, and the result wound be that county courts would be useful for ascertain ing debts, but of no use for enforcing them. It was pro. posed by the second section of the bill to reduce the period of limitation for bringieg actions under £2O, That pr inciple, he thought, might be made general with advan tage, but he could not understand upon what principle a dis tinction was made between debts under and debts over £2O. He could not understand upon what principle debts under £2O should only be recoverable for the space of one year after they were contracted, while debts above that amount would continue recoverable for six years. He thought it would be more advantageous to introduce an em-cement for the S arute of Limitations, in regard only to the titre wittrn writers all debts should be recoverable law. He c ondentned the clan-e for taking away pre, under £2O in the e.m.rta superior courts. In conclusion, the noble lord expressed the opinion that it would- be more prudent to wi•hdraw altogether from the bill those clauses which related to the depriving county court judges of the power of imprison ment. Lord LYVEDEN supported the second reading of the bill, on tlae ground that the present system of retail credit lay at the root of all the distress of the labouring classes. Lord CRANWORTH approved of the provisions for abolishing the power of imprisonment. Credit was very important in the mercantile world, and even in transac tiona between retail dealers; but what imaginable advan tage could arise from erodit amongst the poorer classes? (Hear, hear.) He agreed with every word which the county court judges had said about imprisonment, for if sums of or £2 were to be recoverable at all, surely the present machinery was well calculated to effect that object; but we ought to push the inquiry further, and consider the advisability of making small debts wholly irrecoverable by legal means. The LORD CHANCELLOR said it was a matter of regret that a subject like the present, which was a social question with which all their lordships were competent to deal, should have attracted so few members to that house. (There were about eight peers present at this time.) He must say, with the greatest possible respect, that if they went on neglecting to take an interest in such subjects they would not long retain the high position which they had hitherto held in the public estimation. He believed that the system of credit which had grown up in this country was a very great social evil, and held out a constant temp tation to the labouring classes to live beyond their means. He asked their lordships to consider the consequences of making a man acquainted with the interior of a gaol, whence he went again into the world degraded in his own estima tion and in the estimation of his friends. When a creditcr wished to imprison his debtor, he (the Lord Chancellor) would like to ask him under what circumstances he gave the credit. Another argument in favour of the bill was, that it placed the poor debtor upon the same footing as the large debtor, with respect to whom the power of punishment had been abolished, except in cases of fraud. He bad that morn ing received a letter from a tallyman, who said he was owed thousands of pounds, stating that he was in favour of aboli tion of imprisonment for debt, but advocating the retention of the clause which attached the future earninge of debtors. The noble lord then read an extract from a communication to the Solicitors' Journal of this week,showing how oppres sively the tally system had worked in the county court dis trict of Camberwell, and quoted the declaration of the judge of another county court, that his court was the head col• lector of the small tradesmen. The noble lord concluded by observing that, if it was proper that the man who gave credit should have the right, under all circumstancee. to put his debtor into prison, he had nothing to say for the bill. But as he entirely disputed the right of the man who gave credit wantonly to inflict upon society the further injury of requiring it to furnish him with the means of keeping his debtor in prison, he commended the bill to their lordships, asking. `Vas it moral, was it expedient, that such a thing should be permitted ? (Hear, hear.) The Earl of DERBY pointed out that the bill would deprive creditors of the means of enforcing payment from a class of debtors who had the means of payment, and who did not deny their debt, but who would rely upon the state of the law to avoid the fulfilment of their just obligations. The power of attaching the earnings of labouring men must result in many a poor man being dismissed from his employment. After some observations from Lord WENSLIZYDALE, the bill was real a second time. The Under-Secretaries' Indemnity Bill and the Common Law Procedure (Inland Act, 1353) Amendment Bill were severally read a third time and passed ; and their lord ships adjourned, at five minutes to nine o'clock, until Thursday. HOUSE OF COMMONS--Last Evening. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed :—Alton, Alresford, and Winchester Rail way—Budmin Railway—Bolton and Saint Helens Road--Cowes and Newport Railway---Drogheda Water—Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford Railway— Lverpool Central Station Railway—Llynvi Valley and Og moreValleyßailway Companies—:Manchester, Shtffield,and Lincolnshire Railway—Metropolitan Railway (Notting Hill aad Brompton Extension)—Mistley, Thorpe, and Walton Railway,North British Railway (Abbey Holme and Leegate Branch)—Os xestry and Newtown and other Railway Com panies (Amalgamation, &,:.)-oswestry, Ellesmere, and Whitchurch Railway (No. 2) —P ortpa trick Railway (Steam - boats)—Riablesdale Railway—Solway Junction Railway— Southampton and Netley Railway—Stockport and Ashton Roads—Tamar, Kit Hill, and Callington Railway—Ten dring Hundred Railway—Wisbech Water—and Zetland Roads. ENDOWED SCHOOLS. Mr. ADDERLEY asked the Vice-President of the Cora- mittoe of Council on Education what day the Government would give him for his motion on endowed schools, the re turn having been presented May 12th, the necessity of waiting for which was their sole alleged ground for asking him to postpone that motion from May 10th, on which day that motion was to come on. Mr BRUCE said that Thursday week next would be given for the discussion of this important subject, if it would meet the views of the hon. member. Mr ADDERLEY si.id that he was satisfied with the arrangement proposed by the right hon. gentleman. RECIPROCITY TREATY WITH THE UNITED tinct assurance from the Prussian Government that no forced contribution should be raised after the 11th. Mr. WHITESIDE : My question has not been an swered. I have asked what the terms of the armistice were. Mr. LAYARD: It was undoubtedly agreed that no forced contribution should be made after the 11th. Mr WHITESIDE—Is that instrument in writing, and will it be laid upon the table that we may endeavour to understand it ? Mr D. GRIFFITH, whose rising was the signal for laughter, said the question of the right hon. gentleman was addressed to a higher authority than the hon. member. It was addressed to the noble lord at the head of the Govern ment, whom they all rejoiced to see once more amongst them fulfilling his high functions. There was a certain ambiguity in the answer of the hon. member, and therefore he desired to ask in what coin the provisions taken for the Prussian troops would be paid for. Lord PALMERSTON—I thought it better that my hon. friend the Under Secretary of State would answer the ques tion of the right hon. gentleman, because it referred to matters c.f departmental detail with which he is necessarily better acquainted than I could be. With regard to the question now put my hon. friend has stated the armistice distinctly provided that no contribution should be levied after the signature of the armistice, and that all things re quired and had by the Prussian and Austrian troops should be paid for to the people who delivered them. Well, I am asked whether that engagement has been fulfilled. My hon. friend has stated that Count Bismarck, the Prussian Minis- ter. has assured her Majesty's Government that it will be fulfilled, and we cannot take upon ourselves to doubt that the Prussian Government has the power of compelling its local officers to obey the orders issued in pursuance of inter national engagements, The hon. member asks me bow payments are to be made by the Prussian authorities, but that is a question beyond my power to answer. The en gagement is that payment shall be made, but with regard to the mode of payment, that is a matter which depends upon the arrangements entered into by the Prussian Go vernment. The motion for adjournment was then agreed to. The Vacating of Seats (House of Commons), the Army Prize (Shares of Deceased), and the Beer-houses (Ireland) Bills were read a second time. The Pier and Harbour Orders Confirmation Bill was re ferred to a select committee. The Limited Penalties, the Chain Cables and Anchors, and the Chief Rents (Ireland) Bills were passed through committee. In committee of the whole house, on the motion of Sir J HAY, the Chairman was directed to move the house that leave be given to bring in a bill to authorise the Governor and Company of the Bank of England to issue their notes in Scotland, and to make such notes a legal tender there, which they were not at present in any place north of the Tweed. Subsequently leave was given to introduce the A resolution was also agreed to in committee of the whole house, on the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the ExcHE QuEa, that it was expedient to enable certain banking co partnerships, which may discontinue the issue of their own bank-notes, to sue and be sued by their public officer. Leave was given to Sir IL Bauca to bring in a bill to alter the days for shooting game in Ireland, by assimilating the law to that of England and Scotland. The select committee on the Patent-office library and museum were nominated ; and at 20 minutes to 7 o'clock the house adjourned until Thursday. STATES. Mr WATKIN asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to state the present position of negotiations with the Government of the United States, in reference to the proposed termination or repeal by the United States of the Reciprocity Treaty and of the Bonding Act, under which instruments facilities for mutual com mercial interchange have been afforded, and a large and increasing trade has grown up with the colonies of British North America. Mr. LAYAItD said that there were no negotiations pending on the subject. TRIAL OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN CHINA. Colonel SYKES asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under what rule, ordinance, or law British subjects in China aro subject to trial in the consular courts for breaches of neutrality in the present civil war in China? Mr. LAYARD said he was not in a position to furnish any information on the subject. THE COURT MARTIAL ON MR. PURVEYOR'S CLERK PRING. Sir E. GROGAN asked the Under Secretary of State for War when the decision of the court martial, which in February last tried the charges preferred against Mr. Pur veyor's Clerk Pring, would be promulgated, and why it had been so long delayed. Mr. HEADLA.M said that the question waa under con sideration of the authorities at the Horse Guards, COURT OF CHANCERY (IRELAND) BILL. In reply to Mr, WHITESIDE, Sir It. PEEL said he would consent to the postpone ment of the second reading of his bill, which stood on the paper for this evening. TRANSPORTATION OF IRISH CONVICTS. Captairt STACPOOLE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the long. senter ced convicts in Ireland, from seven years and upwards, were not sent toWestern Austra lia in the same manner as the long-sentenced English convicts ? _ _ Sir R. PEEL said that Government had considered i advisable to discontinue sending convicts to Australia or any other penal settlement, as transportation was at tended with expense and was objectionable on other grounds. THE RESEARCH. Sir J. HAY asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, if he would state to the house whether the arrangement in the Research, contrived by Mr Reed for carrying heavy ordnance was satisfactory, or whether the explosion had not been found very destructive to the ship herself. Lord C. PAGET said that there was no doubt there was some crockery broken in the experiments that had taken place on board the Research, and there were some other njuries inflicted on the vessel, but these circumstances were attributable to the want of the necessary preparations having been made for the experiments. Sir J. EL P HINSTONE said that this was a question of too much importance tu be dismis se d i n a cursorymanner. He contended tha t, from informatio n he had received from an officer it was clear the vessel ha d beco me unseaworthy, He thought this was a que stion which the house ought to take up. (Hear, hear.) Lord C. PAGET said th at the statem ent of the hon. baronet was very much exag gerated, and th e i nformation he received was one-sided, and he believed that there was no material accident inflicted in the course of the c x . periments that had been made in reference to the vessel in question. Sir F. smut said it appeared that in regard to this vessel there had been neglect somewhere. THE ENTERPRISE. In reply to Mr DILLIVYN, Lord C. PA GET said that this vessel, instead of drawing a foot more than was expected, drew an inch less. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. Lord PAL ME &STON moved that the house at its rieing should adjourn to Thursday next, to-morrow being the Queen's birth day, and the day after the Derby day, when hon. members would be better pleased to be elsewhere than in the house. (Laughter.) THE ARMISTICE. Mr WHITESIDE ask , .,d the noble lord at the head of the Government to supply the house with some accurate information in reference to the decision which had been come to by the Prussian Government relative to the forced levies in Jutland. Mr. LA.YARD said that on Friday last, after he had been asked a s i m il ar quest i on, i n f orm ation from the Prussian Ambassador had been received by tele gram, to the ET:et that in future there would be no forced contributions for provisions in Jutland, but any that was required should ha paid for by the sol diery. Lord J, MANNERS : Has the Government received any information that the orders issued on the 11th have been since obej ed ? Mr. LAYA itD: We are waiting for information upon thy- point. All I ran say is, that we have received a dis- THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 24, 1864. THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA, (From the Times Correspondent.) NEW YORK, May 10. The bold as well as complicated movement against Richmond which Gen. Grant, spurred by the impa tience both of the Government and the people, has undertaken occupies all men's thoughts. It is now seven days since the order to cross the Rapidan was given, and though several bloody battles have been fought and thousands have been killed and tens of thousands wounded, the decisive struggle has not yet commenced. There has been much less boasting on this occasion than usual. Gen. Grant is a silent soldier, and allows his deeds to tell their own story after their accomplishment, and stands in favourable contrast in this respect with the Popes, the Burn sides, and the Hookers. Nor has the press, with one vile exception, which not to name is sufficient to designate, been less sensible and reticent. Though nearly all the journals believe that Grant has done so well that victory must ultimately, though not perhaps until after many a sanguinary contest, re ward his efforts, they know from past experience how uncertain are all the issues of battle, and how apparently small a thing, or a circumstance totally unsuspected, may even at the 59th minute of the 11th hour reverse the fortune of war, and convert what looked like victory into defeat and humilia tion. The ssme temper prevails among the people. They have been 100 often deceived to trust much to appearances, and wait the results of Grant's movements without fear, but certainly without undue elation. The speculators and the po, cians (and it should be borne in mind by English readers that a po►itician in America is a man who makes a trade of politics and depends for his daily bread or his future prospects upon the success of his party) are more excited. The speculators, like other gamblers, to whom a battle is no more than a pugilistic contest, or a race, or any other larger or smaller event which by the uncertainty of its issues offers an opportunity for staking a sum of money upon a chance, are not all on the patriotic side. If they were, how could their operations be carried on ? Some believe in Grant, and some in Lee. Some base their calculations upon the olptura of Richmond, and some on that of Washington. Some demand that paper shall rise to a par with gold, and others fear that they shall be ruined if gold do not rise to a premium of a hundred. The politicians, though more remotely interested, are not less keenly susceptible. If Grant achieve what Scott, M‘Dawell, M'Clellan, Meade, and the three smaller lights failed to accomplish, nothing can pre vent him from becoming President of the United States, except his own unqualified and peremptory refusal to accept the honour. As it is not in Ameri- can human nature to believe such remarkable atone gation to be either possible or probable, Grant is already considered President by that large propor• tion of the people who think that Northern wealth and numbers must in the long run be more than a match for Southern patriotism. The only question which remains in their minds is, who shall be Vice- President in the new regime? Some are for Butler, some for Fremont, and some for M'Clellan, the pre ponderance of sentiment and of judgment being decidedly in favour of the latter. It is natural that at such a time all sorts of rumours should be circulated. Credulity, self interest, and that prolific parent of lying, the wish hat is father to the thought, combine with the self-importance that sometimes invests and still oftener exaggerates news to lengthen the tongues of the idle and to keep the ears of the multitude upon the stretch for the "latest intelligence." It serves no real purpose to repeat these lies, unless it may be thought that such voices out of the crowd show the crowd's temper, and may therefore help to a truer understanding of the varying aspects of the day than might otherwise be attainable. Thus it is asserted that Butler has entered Richmond as a conqueror, that Lee has died the hero's death upon the field of battle, covered with innumerable wounds ; that Grant has met the same splendid fate; that the Confederate army has thrown down its arms and fled like a cowed and discomfited rabble ; that the Southern President and his Cabinet have escaped to Montgomery, Alabama, and other figments born of gobemoucherie; or, perhaps, pushed into existence by some too clever Secessionist, to throw discredit upon the whole brood of rumours that every hour brings forth. The real facts, as far as they can be gathered from documentary evidence and from the reports of eye-witnesses, appear to extend to no later date than Saturday evening. On Wednesday General Meade passed the Rapidan without opposition. On Thursday the Army of the Potomac was assailed by General Lee in great force, the object being to crush the advancing columns before they were in position, or within sup porting distance of each other. The shock was so severe and the issue so doubtful that the reserves under Burnside had to be ordered up. They arrived in time, and saved the fortune of the day. The number of killed and wounded on the Federal side amounted, according to Federal authority, to up wards of B,oou. One peculiarity o f t h e encounter was that artillery was brought into play. The ground, near and in advance of the former battle field of Chancellorsville, where Hooker lost the day, and his reputation along with it, was so thickly wooded that cannon could not be used on either side, and the conflict was hand to hand, with the bayonet or the rifle. How stubborn it must have been is evident from the number of the kilned end wounded, which, if at all balanced on the Con federate side, would not fall short of 16,000, The battle, like that of the subsequent day, was fought in a place called the " Wilderness." Both sides claim the victory, General Lee on behalf of the Confederates, and Mr. Stanton on behalf of the Federate, for General Grant himself either sent no despatch or it has been suppressed. As hitherto General Lee has never been known either to exag gerate a victory or to claim one if he had not achieved it, and as the sane cannot be said of Mr. Stanton, the probability is that the advantage rested with the Confederates. The fighting was renewed on Friday at daybreak. The battle raged for 14 hours with scarcely an interval of rest, still in the thickly wooded, stubbly, and thorny region stretch ing from Chancellorsville to Mine Run. The car nage is described to have been more tt*ful than in any previous battle of the war, and to have been attended with a loss of 12,000 men to the Federals and as many to the Confederates. General Lee, in an address to his army which found it at ay to the possession of General Batter, and was by him for warded to Mr. Stanton, claims the victory on this, the second, encounter, and thanks a merciful God that every advance on Grant's part had been gal lantly and successfully repulsed. If Mr. Stan ton, who has promised to publish all authentic in telligence immediately it reaches the hands of the Administration, had,iustead of garbling and quoting from General .Lee's proclamation, sent the whole document to the press, he would have enabled the public to judge far better than it can now of the true results of Friday's fighting. It appears from General Lee's admission that General Longstreet— who is almost as much beloved and confided in by the Southern army as General Stonewall Jackson used to be—was severely wounded, and Gen. Jen kins killed. On the Federal side Gen. Wadsworth, formerly the military commandant at Washington, and competitor with Mr. Horatio Seymour, in the autumn of 1862, for the Governorship of the State of New York, was shot in the forehead while lead ing his division, and instantaneously slain, and Gen. Webb, son of the United States Minister in Brazil, was seriously wounded. Mr. Stanton, who alone makes any official statement of these and the previ ous battles, General Grant being either too busy to write despatches or too cautious to become the his torian of his unfinished work, reports to Major- General Dix, for the information of the people of New York," that the general result of the battle of Friday may be considered as a success to our arms," and adds that "the fighting was the most desperate known in modern times." The Tribune correspon dent and other eye-witnesses do not claim as much success as Mr. Stanton, but state that the contest was indecisive. On Saturday morning there was slight skirmishing, bat no general engagement; both sides, doubtless, discovered that such a tangled wild wood as that in which they had been murder ing each other from behind the shelter of trees and bushes for the previous two days was not adapted to victory, or to anything else but unavailing slaughter. At noon on that day it was discovered that the Confederates had retired, and Mr. Stanton publishes, on the authority of a bearer of despatches from Meade's army, that the retrograde movement commenced on the midnight of Friday. It was no sooner known to the Federate than a pursuit was ordered. Lee fell back towards the strong lines of the North Anna, and was followed—it does not ap pear how closely—by the division urn er General Hancock, no doubt glad to halloo when out of such a wood as " the Wilderness." What has since happened is unknown or undirulged ; but, as Lee retired in good order, unmolested, and at his leisure, towards his own earthworks and his chosen position on the North Anna, it is more than pre sumptious in the Federal Government to cry " Vic tory," to think that its work is done, that the Con federate General is really defeated, or that he is even reduced to the extremity of taking refuge in Richmond without fighting one, or, it may be, a dozen battles on the intervening ground. Mr. Lin coln, carried away by the excitement of Washing ton, and thankful, perhaps, that Washington has not been taken as an equivalent for Richmond—a turn of the wheel of fortune—which was certainly possible, and not many days ago looked highly probable, has issued a proclamation to the " friends of Union and of Liberty, in view of the great victory" which he cannot allege to hare been secured, H 3 states that enough ie known of what has been done to claim the special gratitude of the people to Almighty God, and enough remelts/3 undone to demand their most serious prayers to and reliance upon Him, without whom all human effort is vain ; and therefore recommends all patriots at their homes, their places of public worship, and wherever they may be, to unite in common thanksgiving and prayer. Yesterday, Monday morning, a despatch from General Grant —the first received—was partially communicat ol to the public by Mr. Stanton, before he had time to decipher the whole of it. Whether there was more in it than Mr. Stanton chose to divulge is not known ; but all that he has as yet permitted to appear is that the General is " On to Richmond , " report, brought by a messenger from Acquia Creek, states that a battle occurred on Monday at Spot and that he has taken 2 ,000 prisoners. A later sylvania Court-house with the rear of Lee's ar m y ; in which there was great slaughter on both sides. He also reports that the streets of Frederic ksbur g were encumbered with the Federal wounded to the estimated number of 15,000, and that they lay on the public way for want of other accommo dation. Here, for the present, all intelligence, authentic or unauthentic, ceases of the fate or plans of the main army ; while an intimation —more or less official---from Washington warns . the too im patient people that it may be a week before they receive any further information. Why such an announcement should be made, unless there is bad news, of which it is desired to break the ill-effect by dexterous manipulation in Mr. Stanton's office' sur passes comprehension. At all events, an unfa vourable interpretation has been put upon it — th at if the announcement be unofficial, it will be disa vowed. If the members of the Governm ent have good news they will not conceal the glory of it under a bushel, but will flare its light in the face of the public as vigorously as they can and at as early a moment as the electric telegraph and the printing press will permit. General Butler has gained his first laurels es a warrior by the occupation of a strong position ten miles in the rear of Richmond and by his destructicn however, nearly of a portion of the railroad communications between that city and Petersburg. He w as, captured by a sudden dash made Upon him by a di vision sent out from Petersburg o n Saturday last by General Beauregard for that es pecial purpose, and may cengratulate himself on a lone, but from the an escape which, in his case, was not from captivity mode of death which by hi s orders w as inflicted u p on the unhappy man Mumford at N ew Orleans , . But ler acts under the orders of Gen eral W.F. (or Beldy) a position of consider- Smith, and seems to be in that for him is re able danger, although his fri ends and admirers in this city do not cease to asser t served the honour of capturing Richmond, and of a rod of iron or of afterwards governing it with wield over the heads scorpions, such as he loves to and backs of the defenceless. General Beauregard him that maybe more acceptable for she Sou however, has his eye upon h im ; and may hereafter be able to give an account o f t h hern President to re ceive than for the Northern to be informed of. In Pope a despatch to the Secretary of War, which remindsand Hooker than of people more of Generals Grant and M'Clellan, he states that he is safely pplien trenched at Bermuda, landi n g on the James River, aandga that against th ewith o proper army. He adds that Lieut.-General Grant will not be troubled with an y further reinforcements fro m Gen. Beaure g ard to whole of L eos'u es ho can hold out s Gen. Lee. In this, however, he protests too much, and sets an example of boasting as well as of pro phesy which a good soldier ought to avoid. General Sherman's movements in the West are unintelligible as reported by-the telegraphic opera tors. It is clear, however, that his army is on th e move, and that events in that region will be as ins portant before many days elapse as those in Vire ginia. The excitement produced by the war news h as almost wholly put an end to business. Nobody either buys or sells gold or any other merchandise, and gold, perhaps for that reason, and not certainly from any faith entertained in Wall street or Wil liam-street that Grant has gained a victory, has fallen since last night from 681 to 67` per cent. Royal Agricultural Society of England, The general meeting of the members of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, was held yester day, at the Ulub-hotse, 12, Hanover-Square; Lord Fevershant, primident, in the chair. There were also present Lord Portman, Lord Walsingham, Earl Cathcart, Lord Chesham, Sir Henry Vavasonr, Messrs. T. Sutton Western, 111. P., S. Dent, M.P., Dr. Voelcker, IV. H. Pole Catew, Professor Fisher Hobbs, Corbett, &c. Mr. H. DAR E read the following :—" The council have the gratification of announcing that since the last general meeting in necember his jAoyal High ness the Prince of Wales has allowed his name to be enrolled in the list of your governors. During the past five months the names of five governors and 136 members have been retnoved fi.oin the list by death anti retirement, while one governor and 232 members have been elected, so that the society now consists of 78 life governors, 45 annual governors, 1,34:3 life members, 4,013 annual rnemberß, and 17 honorary raembets, baking a total of 6,406, being an increase of 53 names. The council have elected Major-General I%f; Hon. Alexander Nelson Hood as a vice-prebident, in the room of Lord Ashburton, deceased. The half-yearly statement of accounts to the 31st of December, 1863, has been examined and approved by the auditors and accountants of the sc ciery, and together with the balance-sheet for the whole year, 1863, and a statement of tha country meeting account for Worcester, has been published in the last number of the journal. The funded ca pital stands at L 16,480 17s. 10d. in the New Three per Cents., £3,000 has been placed on deposit at . . interest with the society's bankers, and the current cash balance in their hands on the:lst inst. was £2,836 6s. 6d. Papers have been read at the weekly meetings by Mr. Lawns, on Salt used as a Manure;' by Mr. Hughes, on 'The Cultivation and Management of Clay Farms;' by Mr. Holland, M.P., on Agricultural Education ;' . . and by Professor Voelcker, on ' Nutrition of Plants by the Atmosphere.' A committee has been appointed to consider the measures which ought to bE, taken for the improvement of the education of those who depend upon the cultivation of the soil for their support, this being declared by the charter as the seventh national object to be pro- secuted by the society. The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury having applied to the society for assiFtance in carrying out their design of presenting some sheep to the Viceroy of Egypt, who is anxious to improve his native breeds by crossing, a selection was made under the direction of the President; and a communication has been received of the safe arrival of the sheep at Cair . A special committee having been appointed to co . Sider the question of the dates of calving, the coun cil have arpreved their recommendation that any alteration in the date of calving would be incon venient and thus unadvisable. The arrangements far the Newcastle meeting, to be held during the week commencing Monday, the 18th of July, are proceeding satisfactorily. The showyard will be open as under :—Monday, 10s.; Tuesday, 2s. 6d.; Wednesday, 2s. 6d. ; Thursday, ls. ; Friday, ls. 'The council have determined that the annual coun try meeting in 1865 shall be held at Plymouth. The district for the country meeting of 1866 will include the counties of Cambridgshire,Essers, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. The report having been adopted, Lord PORTMAN, in proposing Sir Edward Kerri son, M.P., as the President of the society for the ensuing year, observed that members of the Upper House of the Legislature had generally filled that office, but looking at the admirable manner in w hich the present Speaker of the House of Commons had presided over them, it was a good omen that an other gentleman from that House, and one so well known, should be called upon to fill the office. Mr FISHER HOBBS seconded the nomination, which was carried uenimously. The trustees, vice-presidents, and council having been duly elected. The noble CIIAIRMAN said the council would be very glad to hear any suggestions from the members. Mr DENT, M.P., took leave to point out that an increase in the number of judges would be advisable at the forthcoming show, (especially in the classes of Lincoln and Scotch sheep. Mr FISHER HOBBS observed that the council had only a very limited number of names before them, and it certainly would be very advantageous that the number of, udges should be increased. Perhaps gentlemen would be kind enough to tend in the names of those who were qualified, and who would serve, the first of June being the time at which the lists would have have to be made up. Mr BEAL BROWNE thanked the council for the regulations which they had introduced as to sheep being shorn before being shown, so that now the judges could really see the quality of the sheep, and the best would obtain the prize. A vote of thanks having been proposed to Lord Feversham for his able presidency during the year, the noble lord, in acknowledging the compliment, remarked that the council had not been unmind ful of the observations that fell from some of the members at the half-yearly meeting in December last. The strictures that had been passed upon the conduct of the journal of the society and the ob. jections made had net been supported by any one except the gentleman (Mr. Sidney) who cavilled at it; and with reference to his opinion that the society should spend their funded capital in erect ing a larger building than their present house, and form a library of reference, a laboratory, a museum, and other works, the council had not thought it advisable to entertain the question, which would involve not only the expenditure of all their capi• el, but in all probability a much larger sum with out the prospect of any corresponding benefit. The remark made by Mr. Duckett, that the society had failed to carry into effect the seventh article of the charter, which bound them " to take measures fcr the improvement of the education of those who depend upon the cultivation of the soil for their support," had been seriously considered by the council, and a committee had been appointed upon the subject, but their report had not Sat been pre pared. His lordship hoped that the society would continuo to progress in sound practical enlighten ment of the agricultural interest of the country, the principle of its organisation, and the practice of science. The meeting then terminated. SPIRIT OP THE PUBLIC JOURNALS TIMES.—Our recent anticipations of an important campaign in Virginia have been confirmed by a Elle• cession of the: most obstinate and sanguin ar y b a ttl es which have signalised even this age of war. From the 6 h to the 10th of the present m on th t wo grea t armies were incessantly engaged in conflicts so fierce as to surpass in carnage all former encoun ters on the same ground, and yet so indecisive as to render it difficult to say at the present moment to which side the balance of success inclines. In the night of Tuesday, the 3d of May, General Grant, the Commander-ineClaief of the Federal armies commenced his 10E1g-expected march upon Richmond by the passag e o f t h e r iver Rapidan. 'Phis operation he w a s a ll owe d t o acco mplish with out interruption. General L e e, at the head of the chief army of the Confederates, retired slowly before him, and took up a position a little further south. On the sth occurred some fighting, which in any other campaign would be described as a desperate combat, but which here shrinks into insignificance by the side of the conflicts which followed. It was not until the morning of Friday, the 6th, that Lee accepted the battle to which Grant was pressing him. Then the Federal Commander advanced and fell upon the entire front of the Confederate line with an onslaught as straight, as impetuous as that of Tilly on the Swedes at Leipsie. Like Tilly, however, he was repulsed with dreadful loss, nor could ho by repeated assaults succeed in changing the fortunes of the day. Se manifest, indeed, had been his failure that in the afternoon Lee discerned the opportunity of assuming the aggressive himself, and advanced in his turn upon the Federals, but without any material success till night was closing in, when he turned the right of Grant's army and drove it back upon the centre with a loss of nearly 7,000 men. That the advantage at tins time rested rather with the Confederates than the Federals is not denied, but, nevertheless, on the night of the 6th Lee retired once more, , and took up a new position Spottsylvania ourtehohse. To this point Grant lost not an hour. in following him, and, after some sharp skirmishing on Settle . n day, he agein assailed the Confederates with unmi tigated fury on Sunday morning. All through that Sabbath-day, all through Monday. and apparently all through Tuesday, the battle raged with little in tertrissi?n hut what the darkness of night and phy sical exhaustion imposed upon the eombatauts. Still, however, there was do detiale'e results, When the last despatches left the field Lee raaitted his position, and was said to have been reinforted, while the aggregate Imes ef the Federals up to the evening of Tuesday were reckoned, in killed, wounded, and missing, 40,000 men. At this •e'ri-; tical point we are left to wait in suspense for fresh intelligence. Never did American mails bring in formation thdreimportaht than may been looked for by the next arrival. le ill e.ratet "till advance, and drive Lee within the lines o f Richmond, de will he fall back exhausted with his efforts, and admit the enterprise to, be as impracticable to himself as it has proved to °there; l efeee him ? It is hard to discern any inclination of the balance, de evenly on the scales appear to be weighed. On the side &! the North it must be owned that the expectations enter tained cf Grant's prowess have received more confir mation than has usaaihk attended the sanguine cal culations of the Federals. If he has not achieved ab solute success, he has bid for it more desperately and approached it more nearly than any of his pre dcceeecrs in command. He has fully justified his reputation for dogged and unconquerable tena city. After once breaking up froth hTh camp he has marched straight on incessantly closing with his adversary, always offering battle, never declining it, undismayed by losses, undeterred by the most im minent danger. For the first time in the history of this war, a great battle has been followed by an im mediate pursuit, bringing on another battle equally obstinate and bloody. Grant, though alightly worsted in the actions of the 6th, refused to quit his hold upon the enemy, or to plead any of the obvious excuses for suspending the operations of the cam paign. It was this stubborness of purpose which gained him his success at Vicksburg and his favour with the Northern people. They never thought him a military genius, but they believed him to be a most determined man—a man who would bring everything to the immediate issue of hard fighting, and who might either beat or be beaten, but who would never be hesitating or inactive. This estimate of his character he has fully justified. He has fought unceasingly, and has clung like a bulldog to his work. Nor can it be added that he has fought altogether in vain, for he has advanced as he pro posed to advance, and is actually a few miles further on the road to Richmond. On the other hand, it now appears beyond all doubt that the successive retirements of the Confederate commander were but so many judicious and preconcerted operations of the campaign. He fell back from the Rapidan with out troubling himself to strike a blow. He fell back again from his second position at Wilderness, though he is admitted to have had the best of the encounter ; and the impregnability of his third position, at Spottsylvanie, has fully justified his decision. In none of these movements was there the slightest confusion or other evidence of inferiority. The game could be better played at one point than another, and the advantage was not allowed to escape, The whole road to Richmond, be it re membered, is a series of positions which have long been studied and strengthened by the Confederates, terminating in a capital fortified by all the defences which modern art could devise through a period of three years. Lee, if he falls back, is only falling back from one strong post to another, till he finds himself in the strongest post of all. Grant, if he falls back ever so little, gives up the game, while if he persists in advancing he discovers harder work than ever before him at the end of each day's march, and separates himself from his supplies in the same proportion. Already, we are told, he has found his communications intercepted by the Confederate cavalry, and been compelled to change the base of his supplies ; and it is intimated, indeed, that the action of the 10th was not sought by him, and that he had intended to postpone it for a few hours until his supplies had come up. We have purposely de clined to complicate our survey of these import- nt operations by the reports of any subsidiary pro ceedings, but the reader will probably remember that this famous expedition against Richmond was to consist of advances from several directions all combined in one plan. Such combinations usually require for their success the co-operation of veteran troops and skilful Generals under the direction of a master mind, and these conditions can hardly be thought to exist in the case before us. Part of the scheme, indeed, was frustrated by the recent vic tories of the Confederates in North Carolina, and it seems now as if the only important diversion would be attempted by the advance of General Butler upon Richmond along the line of the James River. But ler, who has always threatened that he—the out lawed of the Confederacy—would be the first to enter their capital, is, if he has advanced to City Point, nearer Richmond than Grant; but there is many a bad mile between him and the city; he is closely observed by General Besuregard, and the latest advices state that apprehensions were enter• tained for his safety. As to more remote points, the Confederates were retaining and improving their advantages in Mississippi, were holding their own in Tennessee, and had been successful in some naval encounters both in the James River and Albemarle Sound. Finally, in concluding our sur vey, we must remark that the intelligence on which we have based our speculations reaches us mainly through Federal sources, and is, perhaps, coloured somewhat favourably for the North. That com pletes the case for the judgment or divination of the public. It seems to perplex the minds of people in America. The proclamations of President Lin eoln and the bulletins of Secretary Stanton speak of Federal successes, but in terms so moderate and language so qualified as to exprLss anything vi ther than confidence ; while the premium on gold, which was 73 when Grant began his march, and which fell to 69 at one period, had risen to 77 at the latest news, and was 75 at the departure of the mail. Undoubtedly Grant is in a more difficult situation than Lee, for if he falls back, which, if he cannot dislodge his adversary, he must do, it will be under disadvantage, and if ne advances either by force or upon the retirement of the Confederates, it will be under disadvantage still, But he is invincibly obstinate, he has uncontrolled command, he has exacted the unreserved support of the Government, and he has seen the Southern General retire before him, He will, perhaps, renew h s attack upon Lee, but if he ever reaches Richmond with en effective army he will have achieved a miracle of military success. HERALD.—There is nothing like a practical an swer. Lord Palmerston formally condemned general theories on Friday night in the debate on our rela tions with China. He had ready one of those matter of-fact rejoinders which dumbfound ordinary people. "We must defend our treaty rights. We must pro tect our commerce." Of course we must. But Mr Baxter, a merchant trading with China, and, it is understeod, the general body in the same interest, are of opinion that Government is going the very worst way to secure the prosperity of our Chinese trade. And as to the treaty rights, the despatches of Sir Frederick Bruce, our own Minister at the Court of Pekin, are sufficient to dispose of that question. This competent authority has emphati cally condemned the policy Lord Palmerston is pur suing in regard to China. The witnesses we have cited cannot be considered unfriendly to the Cabinet. If rumour speaks correctly the hon. member for Montrose was offered a subordinate, but not unim portant, position in the Ministry on the retirement of Mr Stansfeld. And as to our ambassador to the Celestial Emperor, official duty and diplomatic skill both prompt to acquiescence and approval where the conduct of the Government is not flagrantly iuconsistent and unpatriotic. The question arises, why should we interfere at all ? This may be a general objection, but it is one capable of local application. The Imperial power of China is not only barbarous ; it is notoriously cruel. The dynasty is at the last stage of decline. No foreign aid can sustain it much longer. Even the most despotic rule, to last, must have the heart of the people, and it is wellknown that the Government of Prince Kung is most unpopular. In fact the Taeping rebellion is the general uprising of the people—not well con ducted indeed, and in this akin to most revolutions, but at the same time founded on a universal detes tation of the reigning authority, and, moreov. r, con firmed by a very remarkable career of success. The set policy of this country is neutrality. We have maintained the doctrine of non-intervention in an astounding manner in regard to the belligerent states of America and in the Dano-German war. We adhered to it in the Polish outbreak, and it was our boast during the revolutionary changes in Italy. It is true much of this impartial dealing was only a hollow pretence. We were never strictly neutral, and, perhaps, it may be difficult for any Government, in the face of the leanings of the people, to be stoically indifferent to great public qu estions. But our Cabinet, or rather our foreign . Minister, opposition to the popular will and in clination in England, has sided with the Federal Americans against the Confederates, and has, by his weak confidence and wavering policy, effectually aided the cause of Prussia and Austria against Den mark, However, it suits Lord Palmerston now to declare that occasions msy arise when neutrality would be folly or cowardice, or both. We inter fered with Portugal, with Spain, with Turkey, Syria, and Egypt ; and another great occasion hav ing arisen fur the interposition of the Deus ex machina, we have interfered in China also. Of course, the gravest reasons for this exceptional intervention must have occurred. The Premier sums up his lofty argument under two seductive heads—our treaty rights and our commerce. We are bound to defend the one and protect the other. But the British wgis must be used with moderation in both. A radius of thirty miles has been drawn outside the treaty ports; beyond this line of demarcation the civic strife may rage with the most unmitigated barbarity. Oar quiet English polio is not to interfere. Such is th© letter of diplomatic instruction and agreement. But what has been the actual practice ? For the last eighteen months or two sears we have steadily co-operated with the MCI and corrupt Mantchcr Tartars. l'ire *iodated tho principle of neutrally in the attack tin Ningpo. The whole series of our operations of late in China exhibits an utter ills* rep:ifs! of the doctrine of nonsintervention. It may be said *s• e,Ye at open and constant war with axpedition of Capt. Osborn was at clear admissionlcle‘aarePingsl h 'e of ihi , a, although Sir F. Bruce expressly objected to the enTloyment of Britists ' offieere in the Imperialist servnle. This despatca, which Slat written in June , 1863, about a twelve month ago, Mr. :gaiter states, waa suppressed by the Foreign Office, in order not to convict -.Ministers by the mouths of their own officers. We al: know thsi fate of Capt. Sherard Osborde enterprise. Thu I proferred aid was ignominiously rejestsd—and re jected, too, on lust and reasonable grottssis. One wonld imagine there was hom e commercial( charms in Chinese affairs, which attracted our Government to led its countenance and active support to is dynasty tottering to its fall. England will go greet , lengths to advance her trade, and this is the supreme argument urged in defence of our present Chinese policy. Now, in order to consider the bearing at this view of the question, let us take the condition of Soochows the silk district. While the 'Taepings held possession the exports ranged from 60,000 bales to 83,000 bales per annum, but since we have taken possession these exports have fallen to within/ 40,000 'oales. And this is not a solitary instance, but generally exemplifies the influence and results of our intermeddling in the internal affairs of the coun try against the advice of Sir F. Bruce and of ether European Ministers in China, and against the ex press wish of those most interested in the prosperity of our commerce, viz., the merchants engaged in that special branch of trade. When the progress of our mercantile enterprise in those distant regions is spoken of it is as well to entertain definite ideas on the subject. Now, the great pro. ducing districts of China had been in the hands, of the Taepings, and to them we were mainly indebted, and not to the policy of her Majesty's, Goveanment, for any commercial successes apes) to the energy and bold speculation of our great capitalists and merchants. We have done our utmost to destroy the Taepings, and to restore the sway of the Mantchou dynasty throughout the , whole empire. For this not only our treasure: but our blood has been poured out freely, and this , at a time when the doctrine of neutrality is upheld where common humanity and British honour would s.lem to demand intervention. But we are told that the power of the rebels is waning and their reign drawing to a close. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The successes of the Taepings have been, very great of late, and the opinion of persons on the , spot is that Goalon himself' is in danger of being cut. off from the main force. The policy, then, of our Goveinment is not only calculated to impair our commerce but to endanger the very treaty rights for which it has been adopted. Our 'policy is op posed to the express counsel of our own ambassador, to the opinions of our naval and military comman ders, and to the interests and the judgment of our merchants who trade with China. Can any con demnation, we ask, be stronger than this ? But; there is something more than what may be called s.. material censure. There is a moral stain attached. to onr alliance with the Court of Pekin. The cruel ties and butcheries perpetrated by perfidious bar barians may well be laid at the door of civilised nes , tions in connection with them. It may be, too, that we are doing our utmost to tread out some nascent sparks of Christianity appearing in that dreary region. The Taepings profess a wild incoherent creed, but in many points it must be superior to the atheism and immoral Buddhism prevalent among the millions in China. If Sir James Graham was rsght in warning the House of Commons against beginning a war with one-third of the human race, that must be a shallow policy which would attempt to grapple with the religious opinions most likely to sway throughout the vast empire. For so sure as the 'faepings succeed their strange theology will mould itself into a form and become the general re ligion of China. These are questions which it may be very well to speculate upon ; but to meddle with them actively, or to take either side in the inter necine struggle now going on between the Impe rialists and Taepings, can reflect no honour on rate wisdom or the humanity of any civilised nation. :c COUNTRY MARKETS. COLCHESTER-7514.Y 21. We had a small show of wheat on offer at this market to-day, but sufficient for the demand. An inactive busi ness, and last week's prices declined is per qr. Beans and, peas scarce, and fully Is dearer. Wheat, white. 428 46s Beans, Mazagan..2Bs 32 3 red 38s 42s middle & small.3 , s 365 Barley 0at5........ , 20s 25s grey 34s 3CB NORTHAMPTON-MAY 21. There was a fair supply of wheat on offer for the lima of the year. A quiet demand. The weather splendid. —White wheat, new, 38s to 425; new red, 35s to 378; old, 38s to 42s per qr. 13arley, new malting, 348 to 365--- grinding, 25s to 30s per qr, Oats, lOs to 278 per 24 stone , . Beans, 32s to 37e. Peas, 32s to 36s1per qr.j GLOUCESTER,---MAY 21. There was a fair supply of English wheat to-day from the farmers, which sold slowly at prices slightly in favour . of buyers. Foreign wheat in extremely moderate demand , at a decline of la per qr. No change in oats, beans, aiLd peas. CHELMSFORD—MAY 20. At this corn exchange to-day there was a fair shoes of wheat, and in the tew sales made last week's rates were Is per qr lower. In Spring corn a limited sale. Wheat, old white...3os 45s yeas, Partridge....36s 38s new ..43a 47s White 30s 34s' old red....34s 37s Boiling ... 38s 42 6 new 36s 40s Dun 31s 3 5 e" Barley ..25s 33s Ditto new —s --s, Chevalier 26s 36s Beans, Tick, :ld ..34s :3 6 Grinding 20s 23s 61s 67s Harrow Tic n k e s w. ... - 34 s s -- 3 655 ?visit.... Chevalier 64s 68s new..—s s Oats 20s 26a blazagan si ns 355 KIRKCALDY GRAIN—MAY 21. We had a moderate quantity of wheat, oats, and barley to-day. Sales slow. Wheat Gd to is decline. Barley and oats unchanged. Wheat. Barley. Oats. First....33s Od 2ss 64 16s Od Second ..358 Od 26s Od 17s Od Third...36s Gd 28s Od 18s 6d COAL Al Mace of Coal per Ton a 1 LILKET. the close of the market. s. d' s. d. Bata sWeat Hartley ..14 9 Buddle'sWest Hartley 15 6 Lambert's West Hart- Walls End. Hartlepool ..16 9 Kelloe .... . 15 9 0 Braddyll's Hetton 15 ,-, East Hartlepool 16 7 Hetton l7 ° 1 3 ' Eleugh Hall .... 16 South Kelloe .. l6 2 . South Hartlepool— l5 l' Whitworth l5 Haswell ... 17 u, Russel's Hetton 16 '' South Hetton 17 9 Stowart's 16 6 Tunstall .... :et, 95 ; sold, 71. ley l5 3 Tanfield Moor Butes l4 0 Wylam 17 0 West Wylam l6 6 Eden Mdin .. l5 6 Byass's Bebside West Hartley ...15 6 Hastings Hartley ....16 6 Walls End. Harton 15 01 J3yron ..15 0 Ships at mark, [AnvEnTrsEktENT.l---Holloway's Pills.--Satisfactori Results.—Whenever the blood is foul, the stomach dig" ordered, or the bowels irregular, these pills prove infallibl e curatives. A gentleman, who had been a sufferer for year e, though he had sought the best professional aid, writes, cannot describe the effect your medicine had upon ine ; I carried off more bile, and made me feel lighter and reor:: cheerful than all the medicine I had taken previously . Holloway's pills strengthen the stomach, prevent bilious' ness, purify the blood, raise the spirits, and give energY tb both ' body and mind. In diseases of the head, heart, en kidneys these pills are invaluable, not only removing d ance g erous symptoms, but in warding off the dire effects pit' resulting from injudicious treatment. Births. •i• CARRUTHERS.—On the 23d inst., at Finchley, the sao° James Carruthers, Erg., of a daughter. DE TRAFFORD.—On the 21st inst., at Trafford-park, 0311.- Chester, the Lady Annette de Trafford, of a son. GORDON.—On the 21st inst., at 35, Charles-street, 13e,rl've: ley-square, the wife of Lieut.-Colonel Geo. G. Got Scots Fusilier Guards, cf al° SEDLEY.—On the 20th inst. at Rydes-hill, Guildfor d, wife of Commander J. Sedley, of H.M.'s Indian 1" . ‘ 4 of a son. Marriages. BETTY—GIIEEN.—On the 19th inst., at Hough t° l, le t; Spring, Rowland V. Betty, Esq., 2 d Dragoon Cinar.„`—,a Lydia Mary, elder daughter of the late J. S. Green, ' of Houghton-le-Spring, Durham. GADDUM—JOYNSON.-011 the 19th inst., at AshtoirlolVf Mersey, Henry Theodore, eldest son of IF. E. G 3d o . thl iater Esq.. Didsbury, to Emily Elizabeth, younger chug of William Joynson, Esq., Sale Moor. Deaths. BRIGHTWEN.—On the 21st inst., John Brightwen) of Thorp, Norwich, aged 81. .rtr,ight GrRIVENER- On the 19th inst., at Dover, Gorge" Gravener, a•ci , aged 59. HoLmAN.—O H n the 19th inst., at Glencairn Villa, if r ii rl d Captain olman, R.N., brother of tho celebratedCl bil traveller, aged 81. LAKE—On the 19th inst., at his residence, WelleSl2s: House, Shooter's-hill, Major-General Noel ho. C. 8., late Colonel of the Royal Horse Artillery , ag e ', iv , WARD—On the 21st inst., at the house of h e r sonak3ol deeply regretted by a large circle of friends, Mrs. Dia l Ward, of Newgate-market, aged 67. London : PrinW,cl a nd Prblished by WILLIAM AND,'"'n )10, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Ofnee ot Strand, ' l,l the Precinct of the !S a voy, n C° Wjf Xiddleoex.—Tues day, May 21, ISt.